₦airaland Forum

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
Stakeholders at a one-day public hearing on farmers and herdsmen’s clashes organised by the joint Senate Committees on Agriculture and National Security and Intelligence in Abuja were shocked on Tuesday when herdsmen rejected the federal government’s proposal to create ranches for cattle rearing.

Stakeholders were even more shocked when prominent Northern leaders threw their weight behind the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association.


The government’s proposal was conceived to stop the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by herdsmen as well as perpetual hostility between the farmers and herdsmen in different parts of the country.


However, the herdsmen, under the aegis of Miyetti Allah, pushed for the creation of grazing reserves and routes, which would sustain their nomadic tradition of moving cattle from one part of the country to the other.


But representatives of the South-east and North-central zones sharply opposed their submission and threw their weight behind federal government’s presentation by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on the government’s plan to create ranches for cattle rearers and consequently restrict their movement.


But Miyetti Allah which was represented by its legal adviser, Tukur Bello, asked respective governments and community leaders to “preserve and demarcate trans-human routes and cattle resting points with support from technical and financial partners.”


The group also asked the governments to review past interventions and reports, and simultaneously work out a comprehensive development action plan under the auspices of the National Council on Agriculture for the smooth transformation of livestock production, including all actors in the value chain from pastoralists to transporters, markers, consumers and dealers in livestock by-products.


They also demanded the creation of a Federal Ministry for Livestock Development in Nigeria in line with practices in most African countries that have a large livestock population like Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroun and Central Africa Republic.


The group also demanded the funding of grazing reserves development from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention fund and SDG fund, and asked for support from technical financial and development partners like the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of United Nations, European Union and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (lFAD), among others.


The submission of Miyetti Allah was strongly supported by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Zazzau and Emir of Katsina, who were all represented by individuals and affirmed that they had been sent to support the position of cattle rearers.


Their position was also supported by Professor Ango Abdullahi and Senator Jubril Aminu who claimed that grazing reserves were created by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, and should be sustained.


But Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which was represented by Mr. Paddy Njoku, opposed Miyetti Allah’s demand for grazing routes, saying the nomadic tradition of raising cattle was archaic and outdated and should be phased out.


Njoku also said Ohanaeze supported the idea of ranching as against grazing reserves, and advised the federal government to immediately disarm herdsmen and forthwith commence moves for the rehabilitation of communities.
He insisted that cattle rearing was a private business and hence, it would be wrong for the government which belongs to all to deploy state resources to fund it.


Earlier in his submission, Lopkobiri said Nigerians needed to embrace the United States and Saudi Arabian models which created ranches for cattle rearing.


He said the development made their cattle more productive, pointing out that Saudi Arabia currently produces 4.7 million litres of milk daily for the entire Middle East.


Lokpobiri added that restricting the movement of cattle had become imperative if cows were expected to be productive, adding that when ranches are created, cattle will be healthy because they will be provided with water and grass.
He also said the development would curtail the spread and transmission of cattle-borne diseases to man.


Lokpobiri recalled that when there were repeated cases of conflicts between farmers and herdsmen in the United States, the problem was resolved through the creation of ranches for cattle rearers.


He disclosed further that since Saudi Arabia did not have fertile land to grow grass, they contracted the business of growing grass to a United States firm which he said grows the grass for them and periodically exports it to Saudi Arabia.


The junior minister also compared cattle rearing in Nigeria with Brazil, noting that whereas Brazil has 220 million cows, Nigeria has less than 19 million, recalling that 415 grazing reserves which once existed in Nigeria had been taken over by buildings and land acquisition.


He added that 5,000 hectares of land had been provided by governors from nine states to aid the provision of ranches, disclosing that the land would be well utilised for the provision of boreholes, dams and medical facilities for the treatment of cows.


Lokpobiri also said in view of the projection that Nigeria would become the third most populous country in the world, the government had earmarked plans to import animal semen for artificial insemination to aid in the productivity of cattle and avert starvation in future.


In his submission, the Chief of Defence of Staff (CDS), Lt.-General Gabriel Olonisakin, who was represented by Major-General Edward Nzeh, said following the presidential order to end the killings by herdsmen, the CDS had cultivated the collaboration of military agencies with paramilitary agencies to tackle the menace.


He also said the CDS was working on the establishment of a joint task force to patrol affected areas and simultaneously mop up illegal arms in circulation among herdsmen, adding that the military was working with other security outfits to protect the borders.


On his part, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, who was represented by an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Ibrahim Idris, said sharing borders with neighbouring conflict-prone countries of Cameroun, Niger and Chad had led to the proliferation of arms among herdsmen whom he said migrate to the southern part country.


He also said the police are prepared to control the possession of firearms, even as he described cattle rustling as a criminal activity which must be duly punished.


The IG also disclosed that 70 cases of cattle rustling had been recorded while 99 conflicts between farmers and herdsmen had also been documented.
But contrary to Lokpobiri’s claim that the killers were not Fulani, a representative of Southern Kaduna insisted that killers of Southern Kaduna people were Fulani men whom he said wanted to seize communities in the area.
He warned that Southern Kaduna people would resist any attempt to take their land and give to another group of persons.


But the chairman of the joint committee, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, interrupted him, saying all land belonged to the federal government and the government reserved the right to take any land anywhere it wishes, threatening further that only “government has the monopoly on violence.”

dainformant:
Students of the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, ATAP, recently killed a teenage student suspected of stealing. The student who was nabbed in the act -was descended upon and beaten with all kinds of weapons the angry mob could lay their hands on. The suspected thief died on the spot...

Source; http://www.nationalhelm.net/2016/05/students-beat-fellow-student-to-death.html

fpeter:
Don't worry, think about the good ones you know...especially from those within and around you. Look up to you parents or relatives that got it right, believe yours too will be good. I know a lot is going on with marriages today because the devil is really attacking the institution. Choose to standout from the crowd, believe you will have the best.

Certifiedboss:
Ypure judging from one angle . What if he truly heard her making that call ? Yes he said he slapped her . What if she committed suicide knowing things will never be the same ? Yes women can commit suicide for such red handed catch . I'm not concluding that she truly cheated cos she's not here to say her part. But what if she truly did and committed suicide on her own

fpeter:
why are you so bitter? I hope you don't have plans of marrying with this mindset? If you are a serial cheat, don't be fooled into deceiving that everyone else is cheating. There are solid marriages and couples who take their vows seriously too...have you been hurt before or did your partner cheat on you? Loosen up my dear, all relationships don't end with tales of woes...I AM MARRIED AND FAITHFUL TO MY HUSBAND. whether he is around me or not, I am faithful to the vows we made and the fear of God wouldn't even let me cheat on my husband.

ziggy3579:
Lekan Shonde recounts final moment with his late wife
My first contact with Lekan Shonde was in the office of the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Tunji Disu. He was already seated with his friends. As I walked in, silence fell on everyone. I exchanged pleasantries and I saw a guy, who was looking tired and worn out. It was obvious his world has crashed on his head.

He was shaking his head intermittently. His words were not too audible, but he kept on saying “I didn’t kill her, I didn’t kill. ” In order to get the best out of him, I needed to get closer. He was now an orphan overnight, a leper no one wanted to touch.

Even his siblings had all deserted him. In my presence, he called his younger brother to come over, but the young man gave one excuse or another on why he couldn’t make it even with assurances from those of us there.

The first question I asked him was ”Lekan, say the truth, did you kill your wife?” He looked me straight in the eyes, head bent and with a low voice that has seen so much anguish in the past few days and said an emphatic “No. I did not kill her, God is my witness.” I didn’t know whether to believe him or not.

He continued: “Before that day, we had been having issues. Since my wife lost her former job (as a banker), I had been the one taking care of all her needs, including the upkeep of our two children. On the day in question, we had some issues.”

He was interjected to explain what the issues were. “I noticed some months back that my wife suddenly changed after she started working for a packaging company in Lagos. She suddenly came home very late. She went to work from Monday to Sunday and hardly prepared food for me and the kids.

“Even with her job, I still took care of her. I have two cars parked in the house, I don’t drive, she was the one who drove the two cars. All my finances were under her care. Even my ATM cards were with her. She drew money from them as she liked. I have been doing my job as a responsible man but I don’t know why my wife suddenly changed.

“Before that day, my wife told me that she was travelling to Abuja on a business trip on behalf of her company and that she would be off for four days. I allowed her. She left me with the two children, agedix and four. I had to combine my job with that of taking care of them.

“A day to her return, a friend called to ask me if I was aware that my wife travelled to Abuja with her boss (name withheld) and they lodged in the same room. I was shocked because my wife never told me she was travelling with him, talkless of sharing room with him for four days. I kept my cool, but was highly worried.

“On her return, I came back earlier than usual, opened the door with my spare key, walked into the house unannounced and overheard her speaking on the phone, ranting away: ’I really enjoyed all our love-making, my whole private part is now paining me from all your bangings, I can’t wait for us to have a repeat of the action, you are the best, my love.’

“While she was saying all that, I walked into the room and she was shocked. I was speechless. She knelt down and started begging me.”

Did you beat her? I interjected again. “No, I didn’t beat her.” He was staring at the floor as he answered me. “Nothing happened, I just stroke my hands around her face (probably slapped her). I left her at that.

“In the morning, I dressed up to go to work. I normally leave for work at about 5:00a.m. daily since I work in Apapa. When I came out, I saw her lying on the couch. I felt she was sleeping and didn’t bother to wake her up. I went away with my key and asked our son to padlock the door from inside.

“It was while I was at work that the nanny called me that they had been trying to ask my wife to open the door but without any response. I asked them to break the door open if she was not responding.

“I was on my way home when I called for update and was told there were police everywhere. Based on this, I was scared. I had to stay away from the house and scene since then.”

Chris Kehinde Nwandu’s one-on-one account with Shonde

http://m.guardian.ng/news/god-is-my-witness-i-didnt-kill-her/

donxab:
Members of the Rivers state NYSC Charity CDS group Emohua zone, today visited D Benevolent care Orphanage in Rivers State prayed for them and offered them gifts.

See pictures below

Otth:
Okay, this is a challenge I need a solution to. My parents are saying no money no money when it is obvious that they have. My little brother is home because he has outstanding fees so I was wondering if I [s]should give him my tithe to pay part while I pay the tithe next month when I get my next salary, I don't know what to do[/s].

Mods please move it to fp, I need urgent solution to this.

Vinshu:
Your misogyny is pathetic . Real men don't lay hands on women.

ddjay:
Choi dat mins u wide bdat.go For Vg tightening

PhockPhockMan:
www.thenationonlineng.net/gunmen-kill-20-persons-83-cows-nasarawa/

NLban:
From the look of things, its obvious this guy may not get a look in by the national team handlers, not because he doesn't have the quality but because of the array of youngsters that are coming up both home and abroad.

The choice of Fanendo Adi must have been imposed on the last Coaching crew that managed the two Afcon qualifying matches against Egypt. My suspicion though.

Also, that only Stephen Keshi respected MLS.